South African ex-president Jacob Zuma loses bid over graft charges

A high court judge in South Africa dismissed an application by former President Jacob Zuma to end his graft trial.
Zuma together with French company, Thales, are facing charges of corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering, dated back to a 1999 multibillion rand arms deal.
They had applied to have the trial dropped, claiming repeated delays and the death of two witnesses had prejudiced their right to a fair trial.
Contrary to Zuma’s statement, the Judge said the delays were largely caused by the ex-president, and the French company in an attempt to force the removal of a key prosecutor, Billy Downer.
His legal team had argued that Downer lacked the independence and impartiality required for the prosecution.
Zuma was deputy president at the time of the infamous arms deal.
Included in the 18 charges he faces, are fraud and tax evasion linked to his allegedly corrupt relationship with his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik.
Shaik was found guilty in 2005 on two counts of corruption and one of fraud, with the judge saying that there was “overwhelming” evidence of a corrupt relationship between the two men.
The case against Zuma and Thales has now been postponed to December 4, regardless of any appeals launched by either of the parties